Why the Stars Shine [ON-HOLD]

Chapter 4

trigger warning: mention of death, suicide, rape

Chapter 4:

"LOUISE ANG KAPATID MO!!"

Napabalikwas ako nang marinig ko ang malakas na sigaw ni mommy. Narinig ko namang dadaling napatakbo si Louise palabas.

I looked out. Magmamadaling araw na pero kitang-kita pa rin ang liwanag ng mg bituin.

'They're still shining..'

Agad akong tumakbo palabas at dali-daling nagtungo sa kwarto ni Lilith.

Napahinto ako nang makita ko si mommy na umiiyak. Nakahawak siya sa doorframe ng kwarto ni Lilith bilang suporta.

'Please let my assumptions be wrong...'

Dahan-dahan akong lumapit sa kwarto ni Lilith. Natatakot ako sa pwede kong makita pero at the same time gusto ko siyang makita.

"Ate! I love you!"

Tumigil ang mundo ko nang nakarating ako sa tapat ng pintuan. Binibigyan siya ni Louise ng paulit-ulit na cpr habang umiiyak.

Naging blanko ang pandinig ko at ang tangi ko lamang naririnig ay ang bawat iyak ni Louise at ni mommy. I was stunned with what's happening I couldn't feel anything.

'Hindi pwede 'to... wag ang kapatid ko, please'

Nanghihina akong lumapit sa kanila. Lalong lumalakas ang hagulgol ni Louise habang tumatagal na hindi gumagalaw si Lilith. Hanggang sa unti-unti na siyang sumuko.

Gusto kong sumigaw na wag niyang itigil... na baka may pag-asa pang mabuhay pa si Lilith. Gusto kong isigaw na hindi siya pwedeng sumuko dahil maaring buhay pa si Lilith.

Pero di ko kaya. I lost my voice and I can't seem to talk. I just stared at Lilith's body not even realizing what's happening.

"Ate! Bantayan mo ako pag naging star na ikaw ha?"

Lilith's words keep echoing on my mind.

She can't just die like that.

We were all just staring at her while crying. Hindi ma-proseso ng utak ko ang mga nangyayari. I couldn't take it. I couldn't accept it.

Lilith's gone. Wala man lang akong nagawa.

Patuloy na humahagulgol si Louise habang mahigpit ang hawak niya sa kamay ni Lili. I couldn't even get near her.

Maybe if di ako inatake kagabi I would've checked, I would've saw. She wouldn't be-

Bakit ba kasi hindi nalang ako?

She had a great life to live. Gusto ni Lilith maging pulis. She wanted to catch bad guys.

After a few more minutes of crying mom called the hospital. She also arranged everything for her burial.

I was left alone in Lilith's room. I looked around her messy bed and imagined how she struggled and how she was asking for our help but we didn't hear her.